INVESTIGATION OF LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE OF SEVERAL NATURAL LEAVESFOR APPLICATION TO LIDAR VEGETATION MONITORING

The laser-induced fluorescence spectra of living leaves of seven diffe rent trees were investigated by using a 355-nm pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Th e shapes of the spectra (360-800 nm) varied depending on the season an d growing conditions. Generally, red fluorescence (>650 nm) was larger during summer to autumn, which offers information on the activity of photosynthesis, and blue-green fluorescence (<650 nm) was relatively l arge in early summer and late autumn to winter, which offers informati on on the progress of growth and senescence. The spectral shapes also varied depending on the organic constituents inside the leaves. Separa tion of the spectra into their components was tried to identify the le aves' constituents. These basic data are indispensable for developing a vegetation-monitoring fluorescence Lidar. (C) 1998 Optical Society o f America.